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The best and brightest in Austin arts critics presents the Austin Critics Table Awards each year. Now, in its 19th year, awards were presented last night by local arts critics to recognize the most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts and theatre — for a period covering May 2010 through April 2011.

Karen Weston played by Ellie Archer in ZACH Theatre's production of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

“That pillow was a better husband than any real man I’d ever met.”

- KAREN WESTON

The baby girl in the Weston family, Karen, a Florida real estate agent, is newly engaged to Steve, whom she considers the perfect man. Although he may not be not as perfect as the pillow she slept with as a teenager and fantasized about as the prince who would sweep her away to a happily ever after.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

Sheriff Deon Gilbeau played by Thomas Faustin Huisking in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY at ZACH Theatre. Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

“So … I can call you sometime?”

- SHERIFF DEON GILBEAU

A high-school classmate and former prom date of Barbara’s, Deon has always had a thing for the Weston girls. Time’s been good to this tall drink of water, as he got from under the shadow of his Dad’s illegal past, to be the safe guard for Pawhuska, OK. Now he’s got a stupefying case to solve for the Westons.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

Little Charles Aiken, played by Jonathan Shultz, from AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY live at ZACH Theatre. Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

“I know how things are. I know how they feel about me. I see how they are. I don’t blame them.”

- LITTLE CHARLES AIKEN

His mother Mattie Fae has a lot of names for him, unfortunately none of them are affectionate. There’s always been something different about Little Charles and there’s no time like the present to kick this reunion into high gear and discover why he’s always moved to a different tune.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

“When a Cheyenne baby is born, their umbilical cord is dried and sewn into this pouch. Turtles for girls, lizards for boys. And we wear it for the rest of our lives. Because if we lose it, our souls belong nowhere …”

- JOHNNA MONEVATA

A Cheyenne Native American woman, Johnna is the new live-in housekeeper for the Westons of Osage County. Recently hired by Beverly to cook, clean and run errands, Violet is not having anything to do with her, but Johnna’s hard work and empathy win over the rest of the Weston clan. She finds solace in a volume of TS Eliot’s poetry that Beverly gives her at her job interview.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

“What sucks now is that Mom’s watching me like a hawk, like she’s afraid I’ll become a heroin addict or shoot everyone at school. I don’t know what it is about Dad splitting that put Mom on hymen patrol.”

- JEAN FORDHAM

Bill and Barbara’s teenage daughter, she’s 14 going on 25, and smoking everything she can get her hands on. A vegetarian who loves old movies, Jean has got a big case of adolescent blues with a new hair color to match.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

“You want to argue? Is that what you need to do? Well, pick a subject, all right, and let me know what it is, so I can have a fighting chance.”

- BILL FORDHAM

Barbara’s husband and Jean’s father, Bill is a college professor whose extracurricular activities have him in hot water. Newly svelte, this linguist loves to argue word usage as much as child-rearing strategies in the battle for the last word.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

Charlie Aiken played by Michael Stuart in ZACH Theatre's production of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

“I just can’t understand why folks can’t be respectful of one another. I don’t think there’s any excuse for it. My family didn’t treat each other that way.”

- CHARLIE AIKEN

Husband of Mattie Fae and Little Charles’ Dad, Charlie is a sweetheart and lifelong friend of Beverly who just wants a little peace and quiet so he can watch his favorite team, the Kansas City Royals. He never met a pot luck dinner he didn’t like!

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.